Apple has just announced at WWDC 2014 that as part of its iOS 8 extensions capability, users will be able to install systemwide keyboards, such as the popular Swype system. The keyboards will run in a secure sandbox and not have access to anything except text input, though they can ask for permission to use the network in order to provide more features.

These keyboards can be installed through third-party apps on the updated App Store.

Swiping, combined with really good ‘next word’ predictive text lets you enter text unbelievably quick. I use swiftkey and it 80% of the time it already knows the next word I am going to type, so if I even make a squiggle in the general shape of that word it nails it every time, so you can write full sentences with 7 quick squiggles rather than punching 100+ keys.

After you have it for a week and it learns your typing patterns It is scary good.

For me, this is the biggest inroad for me getting an iPhone for my next phone. I would have NEVER given up my keyboard. This is exciting news.

I suppose I’ll have to try it out now. But the traditional keyboard is so good that, coupled with the new, ludicrously intelligent predictive typing (that Android doesn’t have), I don’t imagine I’ll ever need Swype.

I’d just like to have a slightly smaller keyboard on ipad with the f-ing numbers on top. I’d also like to be rid of the Ios7 shift key thing. I have a serious brain fart and am confused as to when shift is on vs off. The colours are exactly backwards for me.